Method of producing hydrogen



Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES FTELNT OFFICE Sven Hybinette andFrancis 6. Gary, Wilmington, Del.

No Drawing. Application August ll, 1947, Serial No. 768,076

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved method of producinghydrogen gas by the action of calcined dolomite, or lime, in thepresence of water, on aluminum, and relates to our pending application,Serial Number 573,817, filed January 20, 1945, now abandoned, and to ourapplications titled Method of Working Metals, Mathd of Producing Metalsand Method of Subdividing Metals, filed simultaneously herewith.

The object of this invention is the production of hydrogen, through theaction of calcined dolomite, or lime, in the presence of water, onaluminum, by preparing a finely divided mixture, in the manner ofcombining molten aluminum with powdered calcined dolomite or lime.

Heretofore aluminum powder has been produced by such means as stamping,grinding, atomizing, or graining. The aluminum powder could then bemixed with calcined dolomite or lime, and with the addition of water,hydrogen was evolved. The thorough distribution of the aluminum powderis most desirable.

We have found a new method of combining the aluminum with calcineddolomite or lime that gives several beneficial results. We vigorouslystir, and mix molten aluminum with finely ground calcined dolomite orlime. This may be done in an iron vessel or other suitable container.

The procedure may be accomplished by one of the following, or othersuitable methods: 1, pouring molten aluminum into the calcined dolomiteor lime powder heated above the melting point of aluminum and combiningas above; 2, by adding the calcined dolomite or lime powder heated abovethe melting point of aluminum to molten aluminum and combining as above;3, the preferred method of combining solid aluminum with calcineddolomite or lime powder, heating the mixture to melt the aluminum andcombining as above.

After employing one of the above, or other suitable, procedures, andafter cooling the resulting mass, screening will reveal that the largersize particles consist of a very intimate mixture held together by thealuminum. Calcined dolomite or lime particles appear to have been forcedinto the aluminum, which in turn is covered by said particles. Chemicalanalysis of the fines reveals that they contain aluminum. The more themix is stirred to completion the higher the aluminum content of thefines and the fewer the larger size particles. After thorough stirringthe aluminum is finely and uniformly dispersed in the mass.

The aluminum oxidizes but little during this treatment, probably becauseit is protected by the calcined dolomite or lime, more than would beexpected.

This procedure has also been accomplished under vacuum or in thepresence of an inert atmosphere which keeps oxidation to a minimum, aswell as the formation of the nitride or carbide under conditions wherethese two compounds might otherwise be formed.

The residue resulting from the hydrogen forming reaction with lime willconsist of calcium aluminate, one of the constituents of a cement mix.Therefore the residue should be used with an inorganic cement for theproduction of concrete. By compositioning either the calcined dolomiteor lime mix with an excess of lime the residue from the reaction is aplaster and should be so employed.

The apparatus needed for this procedure is inexpensive and simple, andthe procedure can, of course, be carried out in many different ways.

Aluminum shavings and borings are usually the cheapest form of themetal. Aluminum in any other form may be used, and this application isintended to cover all such forms of aluminum, scrap or of virgin grade.

We claim:

In the production of hydrogen the steps of stirring and mim'ng moltenaluminum with finely divided calcined dolomite heated above the meltingpoint of aluminum, reacting the resulting mix with water after cooling,and collecting said hydrogen evolved.

SVEN E. HYBINETTE. FRANCIS C. CARY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Mellors Modern Inorganic Chemistry, Revised ed., 1939, page 668,Longmans, Green 8: 00., N. Y.

J. W. Mellors A Comprehensive Treatise on Inorganic and TheoreticalChemistry," vol. 3, 1923 ed., pp. 663, 665; vol. 5, 1924 ed., pp. 203,205, 207. Longmans, Green 8: 00., N. Y.

Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 28th ed., by C. D. Hodgman, pp.358-9. Published by Chemical Rubber Publishing 00., Cleveland, Ohio.

